Container for acoustical tile or the like



Dec. 5, 1967 H. w. LAYNE, SR

CONTAINER FOR ACOUSTIC-AL TILE OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June14, 1966 Fig. 3.

mm. E mm W a m m Dec. 5, 1967 H. w. LAYNE. SR

CONTAINER FOR ACOUSTICAL TILE] OR THE LTKE S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June14, 1966 INVENTOR. HAROLD W Zm A/E 3 1967 H. w. LAYNE. SR

CONTAINER FOR ACOUSTICAL TILE OR THE LTKE Sheets-Sheet. .1

Filed June 14, 1966 IN VEN T 012 HARow W Zmws 5R.

z/w/aMMM/ MV irws United States Patent 3,356,278 CONTAINER FORACOUSTICAL TILE OR THE LIKE Harold W. Layne, Sr., Beech Grove, Ind.,assignor to Inland Container Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Filed June 14, 1966, Ser. No. 557,421 2 Claims.(Cl. 229-14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generallyto reinforced containers and in particular to a shipping and transportcontainer for somewhat fragile articles such as acoustical buildingtile.

The container or carton of the present invention is primarily adapted toaccommodate building tile or acoustical building tile, a rather fragileand easily damaged product. Fracture of the tiles can easily occur attheir corners and edges, particularly, and the container of the presentinvention protects these areas. Tiles of the type referred to, aftershipment to the construction or installation site, are usually carriedto the various floors of the building under construction by unskilledworkmen. Any careless handling or dropping of the tile carton can, ofcourse, damage the contents. To prevent or minimize such damage thecontainer of the present invention integrates or combines thereinforcing members with the outer shell or container proper so as toprovide convenient hand grips to be used in manual lifting and carryingof the filled cartons. The carton of the present invention furtherorganizes the parts providing the features mentioned above so that thecarton can be readily opened to expose the tile for easy removal fromthe carton.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a containerfor acoustical tile or the like in which container reinforcementcomponents andthe portion forming the outer shell of the containerarecombined to provide integral hand grip areas on the container, thecontainer being capable of being opened to expose a large area of itscontents to. facilitate emptying of the container.

This and other objects will become apparent as the description proceedswith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a container embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspectivev view of the complete, closed container ofFIG. 1. r

FIG..3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the blank from which thecontainer of FIG. 1 is formed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 but showing thecontainer opened to expose its contents.

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a modified form of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 5 when closed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 5 after beingopened to expose its contents.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of a further modified form ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 8 in closedcondition.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a reinforcing panel utilized in thecontainer of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of thepresent invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a container embodying thepresent invention is shown as comprising a top panel 10, a bottom panel11 and side panels 12 and 13. The top panel 10 is composed of two edgeabutting top panel sections 10a and 11b of equal Width and eachextending from the upper margin of the adjacent side panel. The toppanel sections 10a and 10b are releasably joined at their free marginsby removable adhesive tape identified at 14.

The ends of the container are formed by end flaps 16 and 17 which extendfrom the side panels 12 and 13 respectively and by end flaps 18, 19 and21 which extend from top panel sections 10a and 10b and from bottompanel 11 respectively. The end flaps 16 and 17 are notched andperforated or scored, or otherwise weakened along a transverse lineidentified at 16a and 17a respectively. In the drawings only one end ofthe container is shown in detail, however, it will be understood thatthe end not shown has end flaps which duplicate those illustrated.Longitudinal score lines 12a and 13a bisect the side panels 12 and 13respectively and the score lines extend between the inner terminationsof the tear lines 16a and 17a of the adjacent end flaps.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2 the free margins. of corresponding endflaps oppose each other but terminate substantially short of abuttingengagement and thereby leave a generally rectangular opening 23 in eachof the container ends. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the corners of thetop panel section end flaps 18 and 19 may be provided with an ink spot(preventing adherence of the tape 14 at the spotted areas) indicated at24 to facilitate starting of the peeling of the tape when the containeris to be opened.

Referring again primarily, to FIG. 1, the product or contents, which maytake the form of rectangularly shaped acoustic tile indicated generallyat 26, may have enclosing it a liner or rectangularly shaped tube 27which is Wrapped around the exterior of the product. Each end of thecontainer is provided with a reinforcing panel 28 which is sized toclosely fit within the container ends and to underlie the end flaps, aswill be evident from FIG. 2. The panels 28 are provided with cushioningpads 28a and 281) which extend along the upper and lower marginal areasof the panels 28, respectively. The cushioning pads 28a and 2817 have awidth or depth which is substantially equal to the length of theadjacent end flaps 18-19 and 21 so that the inner marginal, longitudinaledge of the cushioning pads is generally aligned with the free marginsof the adjacent end flaps 18-19 and 21. As shown in FIG. 1, thecushioning pads are on the face of the reinforcing panels adjacent thecontents of the container, although in modified forms of the inventionto be described subsequently these cushioning pads may be located on theopposite face of the reinforcing panels. The reinforcing panels arefurther provided with a generally rectangular aperture 31 which, ingeneral, registers with the aperture 28 in the ends of the containerformed by the foreshortening of the end flaps. The cushions 28a and 28bmay be formed by separate elements or can be, as shown in FIG. 1, formedby die cut portions of the panel 28 itself, the panel being formed ofdouble wall corrugated board.

When the container is filled and closed, as shown in FIG. 2, it will beevident that the upper margin of the aperture 31 in the reinforcingpanels and the adjacent margins of the cushions 28a and the end flapsections 18 and 19 form a hand grip ledge indicated at 32 in FIG. 2 bymeans of which the container may be conveniently lifted and manuallytransported. The reinforcing panels 28 additionally provide rigidity andshock absorbing cushioning for the contents of the container. Asindicated in FIG. 4, when the container is to be emptied, by removingthe tape 14 and folding the side panels 12 and 13 outwardly uponthemselves along the score lines 12a and 13a respectively, the contentsof the container may be exposed for removal. As will be evident fromFIG. 4, the folding back of the side panels must, of course, be precededby the tearing of the end flaps 16 and 17 along the lines 16a and 17a.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a modified form of the structure ofFIGS. 1-4 will be described. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 parts which areidentical to those of FIGS. 1-4 are given the same reference numerals.The structure of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 differs from that previously describedin that the reinforcing panels 41 at the ends of the container havetheir cushioning pads 41a and 41b facing away from the containercontents. This arrangement has the advantage that no aperture(comparable to aperture 31 of FIG. 1) need be formed in the reinforcingpanels 41 to permit the thickness of the cushioning pads 41a to beutilized in forming the hand grip ledge. As will be evident from FIG. 7the container of FIGS. and 6 may be opened to expose the containercontents for removal in the same fashion aS described with regard toFIG. 4.

A further modified form of the container of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and in referring to these figures partswhich are identical to those identified in FIGS. 14 will be given thesame reference numerals. The structure of FIG. 8 differs from that ofFIG. 1 and FIG. 5 primarily in that the reinforcing panels at each endof the container have their cushioning pads oriented so as to beparallel to the side panels, rather than the top panels as is the casewith the structure of FIGS. 1 and 5. As will be evident from FIGS. 8 and9, the reinforcing end panels 46 are provided with cushioning pads 46aand 46b which, as shown, face outwardly from the container contents. Itwill be noted that the pads 46a and 46b are aligned parallel with theside panels 12 and 13 of the container. After the container has beenloaded and sealed closed by the removable tape 14, it is turned 90 so asto rest upon one of the side panels and lifting is accomplished byutilizing the hand grip ledge 47 (FIG. 9) formed by the thickness of thecushioning pad 46b and the thickness of the side panel end flap 17.

The structure shown in FIGS. and 11 represents a further modified formof the present invention and in FIG. 10, parts which are identical tothose of FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals as there utilized.In FIG. 10, the side panel end flaps 48 and 49 (which are thecounterparts of side panel end flaps 16 and 17 of FIG. 1) are longer andextend into near abutting relationship except for cutaway portions 48aand 49a which define a hand grip aperture. The end reinforcing panels51, utilized with the container of FIG. 10 are similar to the panels 41of FIG. 5 but differ in that the cushioning pads 51a and 51b are formedby spaced folds of the corrugated board from which the panel 51 isformed, rather than being formed by face-to-face layers of corrugatedboard as is the case with the cushions 41a and 41b of FIG. 5. Thethickness of the fold forming the cushion 51a, accessible through theopening formed by the cutaway portions 48a and 49a, together with thethickness of the end flaps 18 and 19 define the width of the hand gripledge identified at 52in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate modified forms of the container. In FIG. 12,the container 60 does not utilize reinforcing end panels but providesthe end cushions by spaced folding of extending ends of the top andbottom panel end flaps 62, 63 and 64 respectively. In this structure,the side panel end flaps 66 and 67 are folded over the cushions formedby the end flaps 62, 63 and 64 and the space between the free margins ofthe end flaps 66 and 67 permits insertion of the fingers of themanipulator of the container under the cushion to grasp the hand gripledge.

In FIG. 13 the container 71 forms its end cushions by spaced folding ofextensions of the side panel end flaps 72 and 73. When the container isto be lifted, it is rotated through so as to rest upon one of its sidepanels and the hand grip ledge is defined by the underside of thecushion, such ledge being identified at 74 in FIG. 13.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the container of the presentinvention provides the corner reinforcement necessary for safetransportation of articles such as that referred to and the arrangementof the reinforcing structure (specifically the reinforcing end panels)is such as to provide readily accessible hand grip apertures for manualtransportation of the containers at, for example, the job site. As heredescribed, the container, including all its components, are formed ofcorrugated board, however, it will be recognized that other materialsmight be utilized, particularly for the cushioning pads carried by thereinforcing end panels.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modificationsmay readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and withinthe broad scope of the invention, reference being made to the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A container for semi-fragile articles such as acoustical tile or thelike comprising: top, bottom and side panels, said top panel beingformed by two edge abutting top panel sections of equal width and eachextending from the upper margin of one of the side panels and normalthereto, said top panel sections being releasably joined at their freemargins when the container is closed, end flaps extending from said sidepanels, said bottom panel and from both of said top panel sections andfolded to overlie each other to form the container ends, the freemargins of corresponding end flaps opposing each other but terminatingsubstantially short of abutting engagement thereby leaving a generallyrectangular aperture in the container ends, and a reinforcing panel ateach end of the container sized to closely fit within the container endsand to underlie said end flaps, said reinforcing panel having cushioningpads extending along two of its opposed marginal areas, said cushioningpads having a width substantially equal to the length of the adjacentend flaps, said reinforcing panels having a central aperture withmargins generally aligned with the inner margins of said reinforcingcushions, said panel aperture registering with said generallyrectangular aperture in the container ends whereby the thickness of saidreinforcing cushions, the thickness of said reinforcing panel and thethickness of the adjacent end flaps thereby forming a hand grip ledge ateach end of the container.

2. A container for semi-fragile articles such as acoustical tile or thelike comprising: top, bottom and side panels, said top panel beingformed by two edge abutting top panel sections of equal width and eachetxending from the upper margin of one of the side panels normalthereto, said top panel sections being releasably joined at their freemargins when the container is closed, end flaps extending from said sidepanels, said bottom panel and from both of said top panel sections andfolded to overlie each other to form the container ends, the opposed endmargins of said flaps being formed to provide an aperture in thecontainer ends, and a reinforcing panel at each end of the containersized to closely fit within the container ends and to underlie said endflaps, said reinforcing panel having cushioning pads extending along twoof opposed margial areas, said cushioning pads having a widthsubstantially equal to the length of the adjacent end flaps, thethickness of said reinforcing cushions and the adjacent end flapsthereby forming a hand grip ledge at each end of the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,832 4/1932 Beaman 229142,134,130 10/1938 Hughes 229-37 X 2,151,202 3/1939 7/ 1952 Strauss.

5/1955 Seith 22933 X 12/ 1959 Daniels 22944 X 11/1964 Simkins 2295 16/1965 Rose 229146 3/ 1966 Ridgeway 22944 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1958 France.

Guyer 22951 X 10 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER FOR SEMI-FRAGILE ARTICLES SUCH AS ACOUSTICAL TILE OR THELIKE COMPRISING: TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE PANELS, SAID TOP PANEL BEINGFORMED BY TWO EDGE ABUTTING TOP PANEL SECTIONS OF EQUAL WIDTH AND EACHEXTENDING FROM THE UPPER MARGIN OF ONE OF THE SIDE PANELS AND NORMALTHERETO, SAID TOP PANEL SECTIONS BEING RELEASABLY JOINED AT THEIR FREEMARGINS WHEN THE CONTAINER IS CLOSED, END FLAPS EXTENDING FROM SAID SIDEPANELS, SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND FROM BOTH OF SAID TOP PANEL SECTIONS ANDFOLDED TO OVERLIE EACH OTHER TO FORM THE CONTAINER ENDS, THE FREEMARGINS OF CORRESPONDING END FLAPS OPPOSING EACH OTHER BUT TERMINATINGSUBSTANTIALLY SHORT OF ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT THEREBY LEAVING A GENERALLYRECTANGULAR APERTURE IN THE CONTAINER ENDS, AND A REINFORCING PANEL ATEACH END OF THE CONTAINER SIZED TO CLOSELY FIT WITHIN THE CON-